Out of all the holidays we celebrate the year long, Easter holds the highest in importance, yet we probably celebrate and understand it poorly. When I think of Easter, the first thoughts that come into my mind are egg coloring, hiding and hunting for them and some bunnies and chicks...probably because that's all I see in the store and door fronts and internet. I'm not advocating the commercialization of Christ or His grand mission He accomplished during Easter; not at all. But how would it change and what if we dropped the eggs and bunny for a minute and spent as much time in preparation for the egg hunt (going to the store, picking out the eggs and coloring kits, gathering the kids and supplies and sitting down to decorate till hearts content, hiding and finding the eggs and even sometimes buying/making outfits and goodies in a basket for when the kids wake up) and used the same amount of time in thinking about the first Easter over 2,000 years ago. I'm still going to color the eggs and have the kids hunt. It's a fun tradition. But just think for a minute what would happen to our homes if at least the same amount of time as we take to get all that done would also be spent in studying the Holy Week....and like President Monson said last Sunday, "Answers to [Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where do we go after we leave this life?] are not discovered within the covers of academia’s textbooks or by checking the Internet. These questions transcend mortality. They embrace eternity."
It seems that with an instant everything in this world, wouldn't it be nice to have an instant understanding of Christ's Atonement for us, individually, during this holy holiday? Maybe, but the time spent earning such understanding makes the knowledge that much sweeter when gained. And, of course, there is never a finish line to the understanding of what Christ did for us during this Holy Week. It "transcend[s] mortality"...we just try to understand as much as we can and won't grasp the full amount until after our minds are no longer finite-limited. Does that mean we don't need to try as hard since we won't reach a 'finish line' of knowledge anyway? Definitely not. We would only be missing out. Knowledge informs our thoughts, which helps to act accordingly and become a better person. I think it would be hard to learn about Christ and not have as a side effect, the betterment of our own behavior.
President Monson also said, "God, our Father, and Jesus Christ, our Lord, have marked the way to perfection. They beckon us to follow eternal verities and to become perfect, as They are perfect.
The Apostle Paul likened life to a race. To the Hebrews he urged, “Let us lay aside … the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” In our zeal, let us not overlook the sage counsel from Ecclesiastes: “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.” Actually, the prize belongs to him or her who endures to the end."
Another President of the Church, George Albert Smith said (here), "This life is not given to us as a pastime. There was a solemn purpose in our creation, in the life that God has given to us. Let us study what that purpose is, that we may progress and obtain eternal life."
So what is our purpose? How would you explain that to your children? To your journal? To a neighbor? Your own Church friends? Thankfully, our Prophet has also directed us to the best sources of information available, and though considered 'primary answers' they are 'primary', or fundamental, to our understanding of life and our purpose. "Our Heavenly Father did not launch us on our eternal voyage without providing the means whereby we could receive from Him guidance to ensure our safe return. I speak of prayer. I speak too of the whisperings from that still, small voice; and I do not overlook the holy scriptures, which contain the word of the Lord and the words of the prophets—provided to us to help us successfully cross the finish line."
Prayer and scripture study. Something we have probably heard countless times. But there is incredible power in submitting yourself over and over to a feasting of the scriptures. There was once a group who had a seemingly small means with which to gain knowledge and by extension, "cross the finish line" into eternity, but they did not utilize the gift like they should have. "Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by asmall means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were bslothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;...And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a ashadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual. For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the aword of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land. And now I say, is there not a atype in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise. O my son, do not let us be aslothful because of the beasiness of the cway; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would dlook they might elive; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever." (Alma 37:41,43-46)
So much has been promised us. And some have tried to describe it, but are left to say that ear cannot comprehend nor eye see the things the Father has waiting for us. Christ went ahead and paved the way. It's already set. The prize at the end is guaranteed. (Unlike alot of things in life). The time spent working towards this eternal gift is time that is most definitely not wasted, but appreciated, commanded and rewarded a hundred fold. What a great week to focus on the more important things in our life. Not what we are going to make for dinner or what color to paint the wall, but where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going. President Smith also said, "if we take advantage of our privileges here, that this is but the stepping stone to greater and more desirable conditions. What a happy people we should be with the knowledge we have that this probation is not to prepare us to die, but to live; that the Father's desire for us is that we may avoid every error and receive every truth, and by applying truth in our lives, become more like Him, and become worthy to dwell with Him. Brethren and sisters, this is a serious matter. We should think of it seriously. We should look into our lives and discover if we are prepared for that great future life, if we were called hence tomorrow whether we would be prepared to give an account for our earthly deeds; whether we can feel that we would receive from our Heavenly Father the welcome plaudit of "Well done, good and faithful servant."
This Sunday we remember when Christ destroyed the bonds of death and allowed every one of us to be resurrected. It was not an easy path He trod. He even said, "Which asuffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might bnot drink the bitter cup, and shrink—" (D&C 19:18)
But He finished His work, and has turned around to beckon to us to finish ours...and help wherever He can. We are not left alone. Like He was on the First Easter-
Before Him, and without Him, our death would have meant the end. It would have been devastating to loose someone. As well as our own life. But because of Him and with Him, we are not lost. We aren't forgotten. We are counted down to the last. And watched over. I am reminded of the parable of the lost sheep. The shepherd left the 99 and went looking after the lone sheep that had strayed. How can you know if ONE is missing among 100 sheep? The only way I can think of, is by counting every single one of them. If I see 100 pieces of anything, and someone takes just one away, I would never notice...unless I counted them, knew their faces, looked after and wanted to keep every single one of them. The Savior is the Good Shepherd. He counts us. Knows our faces. Looks after us and if we stray, goes climbing over cliffs and across meadows to find us and bring us back into the safe keeping of His fold. He is Resurrected, and has not ascended to His Father to sit comfortably on a divine throne. I'm not sure He even sat down after His mission on earth was complete. All I know, is He is as active in our lives as He was when He spoke personally to the woman with an issue of blood, the boy who brought fish and loaves of bread and was willing to share them, the woman taken in adultery, the man who brought his son to be healed, and so many others who walked up to Christ for help. He never once turned any of them away, and He won't to us either. We are told that our greatest joy is faithfulness. I bet that is His as well. To see us faithfully studying the scriptures, praying, seeking guidance of Holy Spirit, going to Church so that we may fellowship one another, and trying to act as He would in our homes and outside of them as well. Most especially inside of them, though.
Elder Jeffry R. Holland reminded, "As we approach this holy week—Passover Thursday with its Paschal Lamb, atoning Friday with its cross, Resurrection Sunday with its empty tomb—may we declare ourselves to be more fully disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in word only and not only in the flush of comfortable times but in deed and in courage and in faith, including when the path is lonely and when our cross is difficult to bear. This Easter week and always, may we stand by Jesus Christ “at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death,” 21 for surely that is how He stood by us when it was unto death and when He had to stand entirely and utterly alone."
Happy Easter.
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